The Dog Days are Over

I have some amazing "tunes" to share.

Start with something amazing. The lovely "Florence and the Machine", a sort of edgier, rockier version of Kate Nash, you may have heard "Kiss with a Fist", the angry love/hate relationship song where she looks like an indie-kid Alice in Wonderland . But the best is "Dogs Days are over", although the video kind of echoes MGMT's LSD trip/ face painting idea, its really, simply cool. Florence's voice is a bellow, a force. It does make you want to get up and shout, creating a stomp, twirl, and what can do that?

And here's a recommendation from the same place that offers videos of Jarvis Cocker talking about Star Wars, so it must be exceptionally reliable, The Rumble Strips. They're a bit like the bands that are hitting the radio a lot now, thick accents, shouting and a tad eccentric, think 1990's and The View. Yet, The Rumble Strips have the added benefit of brass, creating a sort of Madness feel about them. Check out, "Alarm Clock". I could say its like my alarm clock, but I have programmed it to wake me up to the "Latino Beat" option, so in the morning I feel pumped and like dancing.

Here's another treat, Brendan Canning from Broken Social Scene, some how achieving the ultimate cool, without even trying, "Churches Under the Stairs". PAS/CAL recently released their first full length album here's a track, "Summer is Almost Here". The style is like that of me on the beach in summer, because after living here, everything is freezing. This song makes me very happy. And anything that includes men running in animal suits, has to be good, "Tane Mahutta"by The Ruby Suns, a sort of African infused indie-pop.

Plus, 80's is making a come back, first Ladyhawke, then the Mystery Jets (This Sunday! I am there! I could touch them there!) and now La Roux. (not really my thing, but I am painting a picture) Plus Keane's new stuff sounds, especially, "Spiralling" like soon leg warmers all round. And I am not complaining, well, besides my legs looking like they're malformed.

Plus, The Virgins and (Bad video, can't find the official, but look, you can have a sing along!), The Ravonettes (90's anyone?).

2008 was a pretty good year for music, Vampire Weekend, MGMT, Duffy, Ladyhawke, The Last Shadow Puppets, Fleet Foxes and releases from The Killers, Coldplay (the only downfall to this is their new "image", what are they? Before they were your usual, normal guys, like you see on the street, besides the lead naming their kid "Apple", half of the appeal and now they're what? "Freedom fighters"? Bad Spanish movie extras?), Goldfrapp, Snow Patrol, The Verve, Martha Wainwright, Flight of the Conchords, Death Cab for Cutie, Sigur Ros, Mystery Jets and Keane. Thats a pretty amazing line-up, theres a festival right there. And to promote music even further, even queer core, "Nick and Norah's infinite playlist, which was just about the god of teen movies this year, Juno being last years.

The only downfall being that of Miley Cyrus, the evil demon she is.

So 2008 was a great year for music but 2009 is looking pretty good too.

To end, Ida Maria, whose just a tiny bit cool.